Work to Start on East Micronesia Cable Following Contract Signing

Office of the Spokesperson

Work to manufacture and lay the East Micronesia Cable (EMC) is officially underway.  The EMC Management Committee members have signed the undersea cable contract with NEC Corporation following a competitive tender.

The undersea cable contract is a key component of the estimated AUD135 million ($95 million USD) EMC project, funded by Australia, Japan, and the United States. The project will deliver an undersea cable connecting the state of Kosrae in the Federated State of Micronesia, Tarawa in Kiribati, and Nauru to the existing HANTRU-1 cable landing point located in Pohnpei, FSM.

Next steps involve final survey and design of the route and manufacturing of the cable, which will be no wider than a garden hose.  Once built, the cable will be laid across the ocean floor and connected to landing infrastructure that will also be constructed in each country.

Today’s milestone is being marked by the launch of the East Micronesia Cable website, which provides information in English, Gilbertese, Kosraean, and Nauruan about the project.

Senior representatives from the six countries reaffirmed their commitment to the EMC.